So it’s clear to see how the (albeit premature) change in Conforto’s plate approach has directly impacted how he’s been putting the ball in play. The outfielder’s hard-hit rate is actually down a smidge (36.5% to 34.5%), but what’s important here is the significant change in soft-hit rate thus far, going from 13.6% in 2019 to 6.9% (nice). Conforto’s overall production hasn’t suffered because that drop in fly-ball rate has gone straight to his line-drive rate, thankfully. The slight drop in power numbers through this first stretch of games can be explained by a drop in fly-ball rate. Here’s a look at how Conforto’s batted-ball outcomes have shifted so far this year as he focuses more on attacking strikes. One may assume this shift in plate approach would have an advantageous impact on Scooter’s batted-ball profile. What’s also changed, though, is how often he’s chasing balls outside of the strike zone.ĭespite the significant drop in contact rate on balls outside the zone, the corresponding drop in his swing rate for that situation has actually helped boost Conforto’s overall contact rate compared to last year (75.3% to 76.5%). Following Wednesday’s game against Washington, his strikeout rate currently stands at 21.4%, while his walk rate stands at 12.5%.Ĭonforto’s aggressiveness on pitches within the strike zone took a noticeable step forward in 2019, and so far, that change has held in 2020. After watching it jump up to 25.6% and 25.7% from 2016-17, respectively, it traveled back down to 23.0% last year. He’s also paired that with a mostly declining strikeout rate. He posted an 8.8% walk rate as a 22-year-old rookie, and that number hasn’t dipped below 10.3% since 2016. (All 2020 statistics shown don’t include Wednesday’s game against the Washington Nationals, unless otherwise noted.) Improved Plate Disciplineįrom the moment Conforto made his MLB debut in 2015, he’s shown a knowledge of the strike zone that’s been ahead of most hitters his age. When looking at what he accomplished in 2019, a handful of areas have improved in the early going that have contributed to this. 313/.411/.479 line with two home runs, six RBI, and a 156 wRC+ through 56 plate appearances. Since August 1st, his name has popped up there in four out of five opportunities. Through the season’s first week, he took up residence in one of the top four spots twice. His increased importance has been shown by a shift in where Luis Rojas is penciling him into the every-day lineup.
You know, first it was because Yoenis Cespedesopted out, and then because Robinson Cano hit the Injured List, while Jeff McNeil and Amed Rosario are both sidelined (hopefully temporarily).
One of the few bright spots has been outfielder Michael Conforto’s overall performance at the plate.Īnd in the past few days, what Scooter does with his bat has become increasingly more important. While the first stretch of regular season games hasn’t exactly been pleasant for the New York Mets, it hasn’t all been bad.
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